Andy Phillip; First NBA Player to Reach 500 Assists in a Season
Andy Phillip, 79, an All-American basketball player at the University of Illinois who became the first in the National Basketball Assn. to reach 500 assists in one season, died April 28 at his home in Rancho Mirage.
A native of Granite City, Ill., Phillip earned All-American honors in both his sophomore and junior years. He served in the Marine Corps during World War II, returning to Illinois afterward to complete his senior year.
Phillip started his NBA career with the Chicago Stags in 1947, remaining with the team until 1950. He was on five All-Star teams in 11 seasons. He led the NBA in assists in 1950-51 and 1951-52. His 500 assists came in 1952 while playing for both the Philadelphia Warriors and the Fort Wayne Pistons.
In 1956, Phillip joined the Boston Celtics, and the next year he helped them to the first of their 16 championships.
He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961.
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